Netizen Answers CJ Supporter's Gloomy Article

A few days after his testimony, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona suddenly made a quick getaway that was prevented only by the quick action of the Senate security to lock down all exits. Knowing that he has no way out of it and the Senator Judges demanding he should return immediately, the Chief Justice allegedly had a sudden bout of hypoglycaemia.

Despite the unsubstantiated three-hour rant that he delivered with all the flimsy excuse he could muster, the Chief Justice still managed to convince some opinionated writers to his cause.

One such writer posted his article in The Philippine Star arguing that Corona was able to address 'convincingly' all the side issues thrown against him, such as the Basa family feud, the presentation of his accounts, the misdeclaration of his assets and the accusation that he enrich himself while in office.

Unfortunately for the writer, a commenter using the name acsa was able to rebut his claim more convincingly using direct and simple words. Here are the points raised by the writer and the witty answers posted by acsa:

"Whether you believe it or not, they (Communism) have never been this strong before and their main objective is complete takeover of the nation by the year 2013. Call this my way of warning you."

In the words of the youth – Asa!

A better explanation – expect a coup in case this happens. Our brand of communism is a known enemy of the people, and has taken the lives of many soldiers. If the President attempts to take over the country in the name of CPP, expect a civil war before they succeed.

"This is a scenario that even the Americans are not thinking of because Communism after all is already passé’ hence their focus is terrorism."

The US tagged CPP and NPA as terrorist organisations.

"Call it far-fetch, but you better believe that the first country to recognize a communist Philippines would be China. This is why suddenly we’re having trouble with China."

It is far-fetched, and that's not the issue with China. They've had conflicts with Vietnam over territory even though they share the same basic Marxist ideologies.

"He who is without sin let him cast the 1st stone"

Does not apply, when you take it literally, once you stone someone, he/she may die and may never repent. Don't you think Christ wanted people to change instead of simply die for their sins?

"The pro-P-Noy media suddenly pounced on that hasty exit without acknowledging the state of health of CJ Corona."

You can't help it, the trial was live. Not only pro-Pnoy media but everyone who was watching the streams we're thinking something's wrong. If they waited and asked, who would answer them? Even his defense team seemed shocked.

"What has become to these people who profess to be Catholics or Christians?"

Are you sure they're even Christians?

"Remember that adage that a picture paints a thousand words? We all saw the face of CJ Corona, so full of emotion, so stressed out… something had to give."

We also have good actors in our political arena, can't really blame people for thinking that way when they've been fed the same thing for 2-3 decades.

"But in my book, it was perhaps the greatest challenge (waiver challenge to 189 signatories) that the Chief Justice posed"

True, but I believe it shouldn't have been a condition, it should have simply been a challenge. That condition has a less than 1 percent chance of being fulfilled, and one hard-headed person may cause the people from never finding the truth. I think he should have simply signed and submitted the waiver, then issued the challenge so that public clamour can do the rest.

"I doubt if the 188 Congressmen and women or Sen. Franklin Drilon would dare sign those bank waivers. They’re nothing but [bannedword]!"

True, but that is part of being a politician, the same thing can be said about the CJ even though he's a supposed to be the promoter of justice.

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Going Gaga Over Nothing

The two-night concert of Lady Gaga at the SM Mall of Asia has ruffled the feathers of several religious groups, which led to half-hearted protests and several unsubstantiated claims just to enforce their opinion on the public.

They even went to great lengths by claiming that those who will watch the concert of Joanne Angelina Germanotta a.k.a. Lady Gaga will be prone to "rebellious tendencies". Biblemode Philippines and Philippines for Jesus Movement claimed children who watched the concert may have picked up negative values from the singer herself.

Lady Gaga's music is a genre of music characterized by distortion-laden and simple, light rhythms, frequently repeated, which also features sensual lyrics and imagery. This has led to concern that exposing adolescents to these lyrics will desensitize them to violent behavior.

Citing her "immorality" and "lewd behavior and attire," some of these short-sighted groups brand Lady Gaga as some sort of demonic pied piper who might lead the youth astray with songs such as "Judas." Although, it is doubtful that all semi-fanatical members of these religious groups really listened or even read the lyrics of the controversial song.

While no studies have shown a conclusive link between listening to lady Gaga's music and "rebellious tendencies", religious group continue to broadcast this flimsy excuse in their protest.

While some parents may find Lady Gaga have a "toxic influence" on the teens, as with violent imagery, no studies or scientific proof exist that showed a link between exposure to explicit lyrics in songs and a distortion of values. Rather, the inverse may be true, and these behaviours may push the listener towards Lady Gaga's music.

If the religious groups are really sincere in their efforts to protect the values and morals of youth and children, then maybe they should start cleaning their own house. They could put more effort and focus their attention on the vow of celibacy, and whether it has any relation to the sexual dysfunction of some priests.

The problem is that no one in the church in a position of leadership is asking the question, 'Is it true that because of poorly trained seminarians, bishops who focused too little on victims and a permissive culture in the 1960s and 1970s that saw the rise of divorce, marijuana experimentation and robbery are the main causes of prevalent sexual abuse by Catholic clergy'?

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Adopting Children Legally

Every Christmas, my friends prefer to visit orphanages and share their blessings with children growing up without their parents. This is definitely a noble cause and should be emulated by younger and richer generation of couples, but there can be more that we can do for this children than just handing occasional food and toys.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) these children desires something else: that is to be taken out of orphanages.

"The DSWD wants these children placed either in foster care, which is substitute parenting, or through adoption. Sana mawala na ang mga bata sa mga institution. Dapat may pamilya sila," Atty. Dulfie Shalim, director of the DSWD's Program Management Bureau.

The DSWD, said Undersecretary Parisya T. Taradji, has facilitated the processing of the legal adoption of 6,558 children from 2006 to 2011, or an average of 1,300 children annually.

The Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB), meanwhile, has placed 4,406 Filipino children for adoption in other countries from 2000 to 2011, said Taradji, yielding an average of 400 Pinoy kids adopted by families abroad yearly.

But these numbers are not enough. Many children are still in orphanages or child care agencies, and it would be for the best interest of the children if they can be placed in the care of families legally, the DSWD said.

This is the rationale for the Adoption Consciousness Week held every February following Proclamation No. 72 dated 3 February 1999, which seeks to "highlight the various issues on adoption and generate public awareness and support for the legal adoption program."

The theme this year is "Isulong! Legal na Pag-aampon," a theme the DSWD feels is very timely, given that many children are being abandoned these days.

The process of legally adopting a child may involve several steps, but these are done to make sure the child is placed in a family that will best serve his or her interest.

Shalim explained the steps as follows:

1. Application. Interested adoptive parents will have to go to the DSWD office nearest them or to a duly accredited child placement institution. They will then be required to attend an adoption forum at a DSWD Field Office or at the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation and Norfil Foundation, both licensed by the DSWD to receive and process domestic adoption. After that, they are asked to submit required documents to the DSWD, Regional Trial Court, or child caring agencies.
2. Preparation of homestudy report. A social worker will interview and visit the home so she can evaluate "the parenting capability of prospective adoptive parents and capacity to provide for the best welfare of the child."
3. Matching or family selection. The National Child Welfare Specialist Group will deliberate on cases.
4. Pre-placement of child. Information about the child is shared with the prospective adoptive parents.
5. Placement. The social worker will bring the child to the prospective adoptive parents.
   Supervised trial custody. During a 6-month period, a social worker will visit the home regularly to monitor the adjustment of the child and parents.
6. Finalization of adoption. The social worker will recommend that a Consent to Adoption be issued and signed by the DSWD Undersecretary for Operations and Capacity Building Group. Prospective adoptive parents then hire a legal counsel to file the petition for the legalization of adoption and represent them in court.
7. Issuance of adoption decree. The Court issues an Adoption Decree and Certificate of Finality.
8. Issuance of an amended birth certificate. The Court will forward a copy of the Adoption Decree to the Local Civil Registrar for preparation of the amended birth certificate.
9. Post-adoptive services. This will be provided by the social worker as needed

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